Thursday, January 29, 1998
Bruins optimistic despite renovated lineup
BASEBALL: Low initial ranking, personnel losses doesn’t sink
team’s burgeoning confidence
By Vytas Mazeika
Daily Bruin Staff
The best compliment for your team comes from the opposition. For
the 1998 UCLA baseball team, such an endorsement came right after
their home and season opener.
"I think UCLA will be good again," Cal State Dominguez head
coach George Wing said after his team lost to the Bruins 6-5 on
Saturday. "I don’t think they’ll be as good last year, but if they
pitch, they’ll be good again."
The Bruins (1-0) lost many quality players – including two great
hitters and the entire starting rotation plus a closer – making
this season the changing of the guard.
Fifteen freshmen came into a team with a few important upper
classmen, causing the polls to drop the Bruins substantially from
last season’s top-10 ranking to No. 18. But UCLA head coach Gary
Adams is not worried about preseason rankings because he is well
aware of the high potential surrounding his incognizant squad.
"You’re not allowed to vote for your own team, but I’d vote for
us higher than that," Adams said. "I’ve seen our pitchers in the
fall and early winter, and I know what they are capable of doing.
The other coaches have not even heard some of these guys, let alone
seen them."
A perfect example of these no-name players is Jon Brandt. After
losing 1997 closer Jake Meyer to the major league draft, Brandt’s
name popped up as a possibility to replace him.
But Brandt lived in Palo Alto, and Stanford pretty much has a
monopoly on players from that area. Yet the Cardinal refused to
even acknowledge Brandt’s existence, and now he is the mysterious
and inexperienced closer for a top-25 NCAA team.
Many unsung heroes may show up throughout the season, but not
because of lack of talent. Instead, surprises will appear because
of a combination of quality depth and competition.
"We’re definitely contenders this year because we’re so deep,"
fifth-year senior and first baseman Cassidy Olson said. "Everyone
is pushed at their position to play harder or someone is going to
step in."
Last year, the Bruins depended on the bats of Troy Glaus (34
home runs), Jon Heinrichs (28), Eric Valent (27), Eric Byrnes (17)
and Peter Zamora (16) to win games. Only Valent and Byrnes are
back.
Offensively, the hope is that along with the returnees, freshmen
such as shortstop Chase Utley (a second round draft pick by the
Dodgers), third baseman Garrett Atkins, and left fielder Matt Pearl
can provide timely hits to lift the team to close wins.
Last year the Bruins depended on their starters to carry them
for at least seven innings. But pitchers like Jake Meyer (eight
saves), Jim Parque (13-2), Tom Jacquez (10-4) and Peter Zamora
(6-2) are gone.
The hope in pitching is that the starters can keep the score
close. Pitchers like sophomores Rob Henkel and Ryan Reightley and
freshman Chad Cislak throw strikes and give the Bruins a chance to
win.
"If our pitching comes around, all the guys have got potential;
if they throw strikes our offense is there," Valent, a pre-season
All American, said. "Our defense is a little better than last year,
so we should be all right."
Adams expects highs and lows throughout the season. The freshmen
will be making their share of mistakes, mixed in with brilliant
performances.
The upperclassmen (Byrnes, Valent, Olson, catcher Casey Cloud
and infielders Jack Santora and Nick Theodorou) will strive for
stability and good performances day-in and day-out.
"I think we’re going to be all year long a team that you just
never know," Adams said. "We’re going to have our good day and we
want to be consistent, but I think there are going to be those good
days and those bad days."
The fact that the Bruins are part of the Six-Pac doesn’t make it
any easier for the 1998 squad.
The Baseball America poll ranks UCLA No. 18, and fourth amongst
Six-Pac teams. Ahead of the Bruins are No. 1 Stanford, No. 5 USC
and No. 6 Arizona State. Arizona is just behind at No. 24.
"I think our conference is going to be the most balanced it’s
been in years," Adams said. "I think it’s going to be really
tight."
The Bruins know that they will be going though a tough season,
but if opposing coaches keep praising the team and the freshmen can
contribute offensively and pitching-wise, anything is possible.
Even a College World Series bid for the second straight year may
be on the horizon.